Apr 5, 2021

Diagnostic dilemmas with heartworm disease with Dr. Lindsay Starkey

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss diagnostic dilemmas with heartworm disease. The diagnosis of heartworm disease may seem like a straightforward issue, thanks to the availability of accurate, easy-to-use patient-side tests that detect the presence of heartworm antigen in the blood of pets being screened annually for heartworm disease. But is heartworm testing foolproof? Today we’re joined by Dr. Lindsay Starkey, a veterinary parasitologist and an assistant professor on the faculty of Auburn University. Dr. Starkey also serves on the board of directors for the American Heartworm Society. Tune in to learn what the AHS recommends for heartworm screening and why, along with how to interpret “weakly” or “borderline” positive antigen tests. She'll discuss when additional screening tests are warranted, and how often to re-test positive dogs. But don't forget about cats! Find out what the AHS recommends for heartworm screening in cats, and whether you should use antigen or antibody testing... or both!

Mar 29, 2021

Transporting the heartworm-positive dog with Dr. Brian DiGangi

In today's VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we discuss transport of the heartworm-positive dog. Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states, over the years moving from traditionally endemic areas to areas of the country where heartworm infection was once considered uncommon. Today, we're joined by Dr. Brian DiGangi, a diplomate of ABVP in canine and feline practice as well as shelter medicine. Dr. DiGangi is a senior director of Shelter Medicine with the ASPCA, a past-president of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and a current officer on the American Heartworm Society board of directors. Tune in to learn how shelter veterinarians are addressing heartworm in their day-to-day work, what standards they are following in reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as heartworm disease, and what we can do to help protect pets from heartworm infection.

Veterinary insights you won’t delete. Delivered to your inbox weekly.

Sign up for the VETgirl Newsletter

[gravityform id=1 title=false description=false ajax=true]